Bolt-latch.



J. L. PFLEEGOR.

BOLT LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1911.

Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NOGRAPH c J. L. PPLEEGOR.

v BOLT LATCH. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1911.

1,033,1 18. I Patented July 23,1912.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 5 M] ii? I I 5 l3 J COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (IO-.WASl-IINOTON. D c

JOHN L, PELEEGQB, or MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

B LT-L T Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed January a5, 1911. Serial No. 604,509.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. PFLEEGOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolt-Latches, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to railroadties and more particularly to metallic ties, and has for its object to provide a metallic tie which is to be so arranged as to grip and securely hold a rail thereto, while being also so arranged that it may be easily detached from the rail in a completed track, should replacement be necessary.

A particular object of the invention is to produce a locking tie, which will be such that the locking part when in position, will be held against accidental displacement by the vibration of the rails incident to the passage of rolling stock thereover.

Other objects and advantages will be so apparent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in this specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a transverse section of a railroad track using the present form of tie. Fig. 2 is a detailed viewof one end of the tie, showing the lock in operative position. Fig. 3 is a top plan showing a complete tie with the rails engaged therewith. Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of a tie, one of the locks being in engagement with a rail and the other being in open position. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a tie 6, consisting of a metallic plate bent to give itself a Ushape in cross section, in that it consists of a connecting bottom web 7 and upwardly extending parallel side portions 8. The upper edges of the side portions 8, at the ends of the tie, are cut inwardly a short distance as at 28, to form straps 29, which straps are bent inwardly toward each other and held in lapped rela tion by the bolts 30. These straps 29 are designed to provide braces for reinforcing the side portions 8 and to sustain the same in rigid parallel relation. The side portions have rail receiving recesses 9 and 9" in their upper edges, these recesses registering in pairs at the ends of the tie as shown, and being undercut at one end, as indicated at 10, to produce fingers 11 extending into the recesses for engagement over the base flanges of the rails at one side thereof. The opposite ends of the recesses are cut diagonally to extend upwardly and outwardly from the bases of the recesses, as shown at 18, and the length of the bases of the recesses is just suificient to receive the base flanges of a pair of rails, as shown at 12. The fact that the ends 18 of the recesses are upwardly and outwardly slanted, permits the engagement of the base flanges of the rail at one side, beneath the fingers 11, as shown in Fig. 1. The rail is first inserted with one side of its base flange beneath the fingers 11, diagonally, and is then forced downwardly the edge of the opposite side of the base flange impinging against the diagonal ends 18 of the recesses, and forcing the rail into position to lie with its opposite base flange snugly beneath the fingers 11.

To hold the rail against displacement, latch members 13 are provided, each of which consists of a normally vertical attaching stem 14, and a laterally extending rail engaging finger 15 at the upper end thereof. The lower end of the stem 14 is provided with a bolt opening 16, with which there is engaged a bolt 17, which is also engaged through an opening 18 in the corresponding side portion 8 of the tie. The rail latch 13 is thus pivoted against the outer face of the side port-ion of the tie, and in each instance may be swung upon the bolt 17 to bring the finger 15 into a position to cooperate with the finger 11 to grip and hold a rail to the tie. As will be seen from the drawings, the finger 1 5 extends over the base flange of the rail at the opposite side thereof from the finger 11. After the latch member has been so positioned, a bolt 20 is engaged through the side portion of the tie and through an opening 19 in the upper end of the stem portion. The rail is thus positively locked in position, and any tendency toward lateral movement thereof, is retarded by the diagonal end 18 of each of the recesses, which tends to raise the rail, and this tendency to rise is prevented by the engagement of the finger 15 of the latch member. The lower bolt 17 is tightened after the latch member is moved out of op erative position to hold the latch member from falling down to project below the under face of (the tie, as such projection would interfere with the insertion of the tie beneath the rail.

hat I claim is:

In a railroad tie, comprising vertically extending spaced side portions and a connecting bottom portion, straps arranged at the ends of said side portions for bncing the same, said straps having their opposing ends arranged in overlapping relation and secured together, said side portions having alining pairs of rail receiving recesses formed therein, and fingers arranged at one side of the recesses and projecting therein for engaging one of the flanges of a rail,

inclined walls arranged at the other ends of the recesses to form impinging surfaces for the other flange of a rail, a pivoted. latch member arranged at each of the inclined walls of the recesses for holding the rails therein, and against the innermost portions of said inclined walls, and bolts for retaining said latch members in operative position, whereby to rigidly secure the flanges of the rails under the fingers and within the recesses by the binding action of the said inclined walls.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. PFLEEGOR. Witnesses:

WM. P. VVENDLE, R. A. HUNTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

